tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post2170265160729227241..comments2019-02-22T15:16:56.603+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: The cure for insanity is Not common sense...Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-85737676828410139622018-12-01T17:02:05.759+00:002018-12-01T17:02:05.759+00:00That is to say, common sense is no longer very com...That is to say, common sense is no longer very common.<br /><br />And yet, it remains deeply instinctual, and genetic deterioration hasn&#39;t eliminated it entirely just yet. More people have common sense than will admit it, because the dishonest denial that such a thing exists (or even <i>should</i>) is so pervasive.<br /><br />No, common sense won&#39;t of itself cure insanity. We need more than the private assurance of what our instincts are telling us, we even need more than the widespread proclamation that this sense is indeed still common. We need to know <i>why</i> we have those instincts, the purpose they serve, and overtly assent to that purpose.<br /><br />And our instincts only go so far. They are to do what will allow us to pass on our genes, and while that is a better purpose in the scheme of God than it could be of itself, it is still far from the real <i>point</i> of life, which is indeed an uncommon sense.<br /><br />All the same, if people could just rationally understand how to participate meaningfully in passing on their genes to a growing population, they would stop being insane. I suppose you could say that they wouldn&#39;t be <i>cured</i> of insanity till they got a real vision of what was the point of life, but they would stop <i>acting</i> insane if they could keep in mind what it reasonably takes to promote the life success of their children (starting with actually <i>having</i> them, naturally enough) and posterity.<br /><br />It&#39;s possible to be sane and not participate in passing on one&#39;s genes. But it is <i>far</i> from easy. If you want instinct to help keep you sane, you have to work to the purpose of instinct, even if you see that as only a means to a higher purpose (which it <i>should</i> be).Chiu ChunLinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03519192610708043962noreply@blogger.com